Tasting Freshly Brewed Sake and Exploring the Charms of Yurihonjo City in Akita
Joined 2021
Embark on a journey to experience the unique attractions of Yurihonjo City in Akita Prefecture. At Tenju Sake Brewery, savor winter-exclusive freshly brewed sake and learn about traditional brewing techniques.Please note that brewery tours are not available on weekends. Visit the Chokai Wooden Toy Museum to enjoy locally crafted wooden toys and large-scale play equipments. Explore the Akada Great Buddha, a wooden statue standing approximately 9.1 meters tall, constructed in the mid-Edo period.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
JR Akita Station or your hotel in Akita
Akada Great Buddha: A Hidden Gem The Akada Great Buddha
The Akada Great Buddha, located in Yurihonjo City, is a towering wooden statue standing approximately 9 meters tall. Known as the "Hase Kannon," it is considered one of Japan's three great Hase Kannon statues. The statue is housed within a temple, and visitors can open the wooden doors to reveal the magnificent figure, adorned with gold leaf. The serene atmosphere and the statue's intricate craftsmanship offer a profound and contemplative experience, reflecting the region's spiritual and artistic heritage
Chokaisan Wooden Toy Museum
Housed in the former Ayukawa Elementary School, a wooden structure over 60 years old, the Chokaisan Wooden Toy Museum opened in July 2018. The museum features a vast collection of wooden toys and playground equipment crafted from local timber, offering a tactile and nostalgic experience for visitors of all ages. Interactive zones such as "Mori no Asobiba" allow guests to engage with various playhouses and a pool filled with wooden acorns, while "Tedzukuri Kobo" provides hands-on workshops to create original toys using wood and bamboo. The museum also includes exhibition rooms showcasing local cultural artifacts, preserving and promoting the region's traditional heritage.
Tenju Sake Brewery
Established in 1830, Tenju Sake Brewery is a family-owned establishment nestled at the foot of Mount Chokai in Yashima Town. The brewery utilizes the pristine, naturally filtered water from Mount Chokai and locally cultivated sake rice to produce high-quality sake. During the winter months, visitors can witness the meticulous brewing process and savor freshly pressed sake, known for its clean and well-rounded flavor. This experience provides insight into the traditional methods and dedication that have sustained Tenju's reputation for nearly two centuries
Ending Point
JR Akita Station or your location
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee
private car / Audi 5 seaters SUV
transportation expenses
-king fee
-highway fee
-cost of gasoline
lunch (6~8USD)
the sake brewery tour fee (6~7USD)
the admission fee for the wooden toy museum (5~6USD)
Tour Important Information
Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Kindly be aware that sake brewery tours are typically NOT offered on Saturdays and Sundays.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2021
About Tour Guide Minako M.
I am a licensed tour guide in Akita.
I'm on a mission to unveil the enchanting allure of Akita Prefecture to the world.
Nestled away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and Kyoto, Akita Prefecture boasts a traditional Japanese landscape that's as unique as it is captivating. My passion lies in ensuring that every visitor, no matter where they're from, experiences the richness of Akita's nature and culture.
Reviews
Christopher D.
“Excellent guide”
Minako was on time at the port, beautifully dressed in traditional costume and gave us a very good guided tour. Excellent value and highly recommended. Chris and Irene Dale
Minako M.
Dear Chris and Irene, Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for taking the time to share your experience. It was truly a pleasure to guide you around Akita on April 8th. I’m so glad you enjoyed the tour and appreciated the traditional attire. Your warm words mean a lot to me, and I’m honored to have been part of your journey in Japan. I hope the memories of Akita stay with you for a long time, and I would love to welcome you back someday! Wishing you all the best in your future travels. Warm regards, Minako
Nadine H.
“Minako was super committed”
Everything was great. The communication, the requests, which she accommodated. She showed us her father's birthplace and bakery. She explained a lot and shared many insights. Her expertise on Akita's history was impressive. We would recommend her to anyone. Her English is very good. We thank her for a wonderful and unforgettable day in Akita.
Minako M.
Dear 菜寧音（Nadine） and 風蘭久（Frank）, Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review. It truly warms my heart to know that you enjoyed your time in Akita. I’m especially glad that I could share with you a part of my family’s history by visiting my father’s birthplace and our family bakery. Your curiosity and warm presence made the experience even more special for me as well. I’m honored by your words about my knowledge of Akita’s history, and I’m happy I could provide you with an unforgettable day. Your recommendation means a lot to me. I hope our paths cross again someday. Until then, please take care and cherish your memories of Japan. Warmest regards, Minako
Bert R.
“Kakunodate and Maiko dance”
Minako has a good knowledge of the places we wanted to visited. We were late for the Maiko dance due to time management.
Minako M.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. I’m delighted to hear that you enjoyed visiting the places we explored together in Kakunodate. I apologize for the delay in our schedule, which caused us to arrive late for the Maiko dance performance. I appreciate your understanding and will strive to improve time management for future tours. I hope you had a memorable experience overall, and I look forward to the possibility of guiding you again on your next visit to Japan.
$364/ per group
More tours by Minako M.
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Inland Akita provides you with beautiful nature and rich historical culture. Unfolded from a Lookout is a breathtaking view of Lake Tazawa and high mountains seen beyond it. At Kakunodate Castle Town, you will feel its 400-year history strolling along the Samurai House street lined with beautiful and lush tall trees. If we drop in at a Samurai House, we will be impressed with the armory and the other Samurai tools used hundreds of years ago!
Akita Nature and Culture Experience - Full-day Trekking and Kakunodate Samurai House
Mt. Komagatake, 1637 meters above sea level, provides with spectacular view of Lake Tazawa and its surrounding hills and countryside. After an hour and a half drive from Akita City to 8th station of the mountain, you may go up to the peak in 90 minutes. On the way back to Akita City, you may stroll around Kakunodate Samurai House Street, exposing you to wonderful flavor of Akita both in nature and culture!
Full-day Akita Samurai Town and Lake Tazawa Tour
Premiere Tour of Akita. In this tour, you can see how samurai lived in samurai residences. At one Samurai house, a staff member tells us about the residence. You can witness samurai swords, armor, kimonos, etc. You can take a nice photo wearing a samurai helmet. Lake Tazawa is a mysterious Lake and the deepest one in Japan. The golden statue of Tatsuko is a must-see spot in Akita. Please take memorial photos at the shore of Lake Tazawa. We enjoy lunch at Kakunodate town or near Lake Tazawa.
